This is the
day that the Lord has made. We will
rejoice and be glad in it!
Psalm 118:24 (Hebrew Names Version)
I was on the
train this morning commuting into D.C. With
two hours to ride, I could not keep my eyes open, so as I thought that I would
simply close them for a moment, with the idea that I would open them very
shortly and get to work. Instead I
opened them right when the conductor announced that we would be arriving at
Union Station soon. But what I saw at
that moment filled me with awe and amazement!
Upon opening them I saw the sun bursting through the clouds with this
one thought bursting through the fog in my brain:
This is the
day that the Lord has made. We will
rejoice and be glad in it!
This day was
made by the Lord. And for what purpose .
. . that we would rejoice and be glad in it!
Seemed simple enough a thought, until I started wondering why the writer
felt it necessary to tell us to rejoice and be glad. It is not stated as an idea, like we may
rejoice and be glad in it. Instead it is
stated as an imperative . . . as a command . . . we WILL rejoice and be glad in
it.
It is the
intention of the Lord, HIS purpose for our lives, that we rejoice in THIS
day. He made it for just that
purpose! So . . . if I refuse to rejoice
and be glad in it I am going against God’s design for the day. For some of us just knowing it is His will
and we would be being disobedient if we don’t do it is enough for us to do
whatever it is. But for some of us, me often included, just being told
something to do, especially when we don’t feel it . . . well that just doesn’t
cut it. So for the rest of us who may
need more, perhaps a look at the words may help.
Rejoice
means to show great joy and delight. It
is a verb, meaning it is an action. It
comes from Anglo-French origin rejoir
or to welcome and enjoy. To welcome and
enjoy. Hmmm And glad means to experience joy and
pleasure. Hmm
So . .
. plugging in the definition . . .
“This is the
day that the Lord has made. We will
welcome it and enjoy it and experience joy and pleasure in it.”
What
happened yesterday is yesterday. Today
is a new day. Your and my future is not created by what was done yesterday or
even what we may think we will do tomorrow, but it is created by what we do
today. No matter how bad yesterday was;
no matter what we have from yesterday which seems to be affecting today . . .
today is a NEW day with a NEW opportunity to create a NEW life and a NEW
future. Is that not a reason to rejoice
and be glad in it, to welcome and enjoy it and experience joy and pleasure in
it?!
And remember
Rejoice is a verb. Action is
required. So you were crying . . . start
laughing. So you did not do what you
needed to do yesterday, you have today to do what you can do today. So there was dancing yesterday and joy in the
house, and today the sun rises on stillness and quiet . . . you have today to
create new memories, to cherish the old and embrace the new; to build on the
positive. Get to DOING the welcoming and enjoying of THIS day!
Come to
think of it, I think God had something going on here when He created THIS
day. I think I like its purpose. I think, NO I KNOW I will follow his
command. I welcome this day to enjoy all
it has to offer. I will be glad and take
pleasure in it. You do too. God always has the right idea for our well
being.
Got Word?
Love yah,
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